As a team full of women in design, we want to highlight other women artists who inspire us in honor of Women's History Month. Our chosen artists have been breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes, paving the way for future generations of women. In this post, we will explore the works of some of our time's most inspiring women artists.
FRIDA KAHLO
Frida Kahlo is one of the biggest inspirations for our Founder, Ceci Johnson. Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter known for her unique style and self-portraits. Her physical and emotional pain often inspired her paintings. Kahlo's art often portrayed women's issues, such as miscarriage, menstruation, and childbirth. Her paintings reflected her life, and her courage to express her pain and struggles made her an inspiration to many. Kahlo faced many challenges throughout her life, including a bus accident that severely injured her. Despite her physical pain, Kahlo persevered and continued to create art that spoke to the human experience.
"Despite all odds and life hardships, she found a way to thrive and express herself creatively through her art and her passion, determination to be artistic in the toughest conditions in turn inspiring millions among many generations." - Ceci Johnson
JENNY SAVILLE
Jenny Saville is a British painter known for her large-scale human body paintings. Her artworks often feature distorted and enlarged figures that challenge traditional beauty standards. Saville's paintings reflect the human experience, and her use of color and texture adds depth and emotion to her works. Her art has been influential in challenging societal norms and perceptions of beauty. Saville's paintings capture the essence of the human body in all its complexity, and her ability to portray the human form with such honesty and vulnerability is truly inspiring.
ASHLEY LONGSHORE
Ashley Longshore is a contemporary artist from the United States known for her vibrant and colorful paintings. Her artworks often feature pop culture icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Longshore's art is a celebration of female empowerment and challenges societal norms. She has inspired many women who aspire to break free from traditional gender roles. Longshore's art reflects her personality, and her bold and unapologetic approach to life is evident in her paintings.
GEORGIA O'KEEFE
Georgia O'Keeffe was an American artist known for her paintings of flowers, landscapes, and bones. O'Keeffe's art reflected her love for nature, and her ability to capture the beauty of the natural world was truly remarkable. Her paintings often featured close-up views of flowers, which she believed had a sensual quality that was often overlooked. O'Keeffe's art challenged traditional notions of femininity and beauty, and her paintings continue to inspire generations of women.
YAYOI KUSAMA
Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese artist known for her avant-garde installations and sculptures. Kusama's art reflects her struggle with mental illness, and her use of repetition and pattern is often interpreted as a coping mechanism. Kusama's art celebrates the life and the human experience, and her ability to create immersive environments that transport viewers to another world is truly remarkable. She is widely known for her recent collaboration with Louis Vuitton. Her robot clone is seen in the window of their New York City flagship painting her famed polka dots.
CINDY SHERMAN
Cindy Sherman is an American photographer and filmmaker known for her self-portraits that challenge traditional notions of femininity and beauty. Sherman's art is a reflection of her exploration of identity and the role of women in society. Her ability to transform herself into different characters is truly remarkable, and her art has been influential in redefining the boundaries of photography and art. Sherman's art challenges viewers to question their perceptions of beauty and femininity.
AMY SHERALD
Amy Sherald is an American painter known for her portraits of African Americans. Sherald's art challenges traditional notions of portraiture and beauty, and her use of color and composition adds depth and emotion to her works. Sherald's art reflects the African American experience, and her ability to capture the essence of her subjects is genuinely remarkable. Sherald's art has been influential in bringing attention to the underrepresentation of African Americans in the art world, and her ability to create personal and universal art is genuinely inspiring. Her most recent work includes presidential portrait of Barak Obama and portrait of his First Lady, Michelle Obama.
FAITH RINGGOLD
Faith Ringgold is an American artist known for her quilts, paintings, and sculptures. Ringgold's art reflects her exploration of identity and the role of women and African Americans in society. Her ability to combine traditional craft techniques with contemporary art is truly remarkable, and her art has been influential in challenging conventional notions of art and beauty. Ringgold's art challenges viewers to question their perceptions of race and gender.
ELAINE STURTEVANT
Elaine Sturtevant was an American artist known for her reproductions of the works of other artists. Sturtevant's art reflected her exploration of the boundaries of originality and authorship in art. Her ability to recreate the works of other artists with such precision and accuracy is truly remarkable, and her art has been influential in challenging traditional notions of art and originality. Sturtevant's art challenges viewers to question their perceptions of art and authorship.
ADRIAN PIPER
Adrian Piper is an American artist known for her conceptual art and philosophy. Piper's art reflects her exploration of identity and the role of race and gender in society. Her ability to combine art and philosophy is remarkable, and her art has challenged traditional notions of art and beauty.
These women artists are just a few examples of the many inspiring women who have contributed to the art world. Their artworks have challenged societal norms and perceptions, inspiring generations of women to express themselves through art. As we continue to celebrate the works of these women, our team aims to create a gender and race-inclusive environment and uplift the women around us every day.
